High‐resolution microstructural and compositional analyses of shock deformed apatite from the peak ring of the Chicxulub impact crater

Abstract The mineral apatite, Ca 5 (PO 4 ) 3 (F,Cl,OH), is a ubiquitous accessory mineral, with its volatile content and isotopic compositions used to interpret the evolution of H 2 O on planetary bodies. During hypervelocity impact, extreme pressures shock target rocks resulting in deformation of minerals; however, relatively few microstructural studies of apatite have been undertaken. Given its widespread distribution in the solar system, it …